The revolutionary MacSwiney family
The revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
This family used the spelling
"McSwiney" in earlier records (John's marriage and children's birth certs and 1901 census).
Later standardised to "MacSwiney".
Pronounced "MacSweeney".
Possibly related to McSwiney, the family of
Marion McSwiney.
Is the revolutionary MacSwiney family related to Marion McSwiney's family?
Blennerhassett Cashel married in 1898,
as his 2nd wife, to
Marion McSwiney.
Marion
was
born in Limerick,
of a
McSwiney family originally from Cork,
and which had returned to Cork before 1895.
The Cashel family also became good friends in Cork with the
revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
In particular,
Blennerhassett Cashel's children by his 1st marriage,
Alice Cashel
and
Kathleen Riordan,
became friends and comrades
from at least 1911 of the revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
So is
Marion McSwiney's family
related to the revolutionary MacSwiney family?
Maybe:
- Both from Co.Cork.
- Apparently both linked to Kilmurry, Co.Cork.
- Would explain how the Cashels got to know them.
-
At her marriage in 1926,
Helen Cashel (dau of Marion McSwiney)
is listed at 5 Eldred Terrace, the same house that the Lord Mayor
Terence MacSwiney (died 1920)
formerly lived in.
We know they were friends, but this might indicate they were actually cousins.
- However, caution that the whole friendship may date to when
Alice Cashel
and Terence MacSwiney both worked in the
Cork Municipal School of Commerce in 1911.
And then it would be cemented by politics and the revolution.
There might be no family relationship at all.
- Helen Cashel's family even inherited a chair from Terence MacSwiney's house,
which they still have.
But again, it is unclear if this proves they were friends or were relatives.
John McSwiney,
mar Catherine Falvey,
had issue:
-
John McSwiney,
or MacSwiney,
born 1836, Co.Cork.
Said to be born on a farm at Kilmurry, Co.Cork
(W of Crookstown,
SE of Macroom,
see map).
Kilmurry is Kilmurry RC par.
See par records.
The 1904 obituary of his brother
Eugene MacSwiney
says Eugene came from Bandon, Co.Cork
(a bit SE of Crookstown).
John went to England.
He mar 1871 in England to Mary Wilkinson [English Catholic].
(todo) See mar of John McSwiney and Mary Wilkinson,
[GRO.UK]
2nd qr 1871, St Olave Southwark, vol 1d p 350.
They lived in England for a time.
Returned to Ireland 1879.
Lived in Cork city.
After his business failed John emigrated alone to Australia in 1885. (His brother Eugene was already there.)
Mary stayed in Cork.
John died in Melbourne, Australia, 19 October 1895, age 59 yrs.
His Australian death record
lists his parents.
He was bur in Melbourne.
See findagrave.
See Mary and children
listed
in 1901 census
at Saint Mary's Terrace, Cork.
See the children listed
in 1911 census
at Knockrea, Blackrock, Cork.
Census return in Irish.
John and Mary
had issue:
- Mary MacSwiney, born 1872.
She was educ at University of Cambridge (Teaching Diploma).
In 1916 she and her sister Annie founded the nationalist school,
St. Ita's School for girls, Cork
(Scoil Ite).
It was
modelled on St Enda's.
Taught through Irish.
Mary was a
Sinn Fein TD 1921-1927.
She was jailed in the Civil War in 1922-23.
She was arrested 4 Nov 1922 in a Free State raid at the house of
Nancy O'Rahilly.
She was in jail with Nancy and
Nell Humphreys and
Sighle Humphreys.
See Sighle's memoirs of prison 1922-23.
She
died 1942.
See DIB.
- Terence MacSwiney, born 1879.
See birth cert
from here.
He mar 1917 to Muriel Murphy [born 1892].
They lived at 5 Eldred Terrace, South Douglas Rd, Cork.
See a tribute to him
painted near Eldred Terrace
in 2020.
See search.
Sinn Fein TD 1918-1920.
Lord Mayor of Cork 1920.
He
died on hunger strike, 1920.
See DIB.
Muriel died 1982.
They
had issue:
- Maire MacSwiney, born 1918.
She
mar 1945 to Ruairi Brugha
[son of Cathal Brugha
and Caitlin Kingston]
and had issue.
- Annie MacSwiney,
Anne Mary,
Eithne, born 1883, Cork.
See birth cert
from here.
Co-founded Scoil Ite in Cork in 1916 with her sister.
- Sean MacSwiney,
John Terence, born 1886, Cork.
See birth cert
from here.
Sinn Fein TD 1921-1922.
He
died 1942.
Sources yet to be consulted
- History's Daughter: A Memoir from the Only Child of Terence MacSwiney
by Maire MacSwiney Brugha (2005).
MacSwiney papers at
[UCD Archives].
IE UCDA P48a and P48b and P48c.
- P48a.
Papers of Mary MacSwiney.
Dates 1872-1964.
- 11 boxes.
- Correspondence with a wide range of individuals concerning developments in Ireland including Harry Boland,
Stephen O'Mara,
Eamon de Valera and Sean T. O'Ceallaigh.
- Personal material relating to her early life, education and teaching career (1872-1916)
and to the foundation and management of St Ita's School (1916-1941).
- P48b.
Papers of Terence MacSwiney.
Dates 1895-1962.
- P48c. Working papers and correspondence of Terence MacSwiney's biographers.
- P48c/268.
Letter of 12 April 1950 from the Bureau of Military History
to Alice Cashel.
- P48c/239.
Letter of 17 March 1954 from Alice Cashel to unknown.
